Weather station mounting for harvesting machine and method of deployment thereof

Abstract

A harvesting machine includes a chassis, a ground-engaging mechanism for supporting the chassis, and a tank assembly mounted to the chassis for storing a crop material. The tank assembly includes a retractable door for at least partially covering an opening formed in a top of the tank assembly. A mobile sensor assembly includes a rod and a sensor for detecting a weather condition, such that the rod includes a first end coupled to the retractable door and a second end to which the sensor is coupled. The retractable door is operably moved between an open position and a closed position, and the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between a deployed position and a stowed position as the door is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a ground-engaging mechanism for supporting the chassis; 
 a grain tank assembly mounted to the chassis for storing a crop material, the grain tank assembly including a retractable door of the grain tank assembly, the retractable door having an open position and a closed position for covering an opening formed in a top of the grain tank assembly; and 
 a mobile sensor assembly comprising a rod and a sensor for detecting a weather condition, the rod including a first end coupled to the retractable door and a second end coupled to the sensor; 
 wherein, the retractable door is operably moved between the open position and the closed position; 
 wherein, the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between a deployed position and a stowed position as the door is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the mobile sensor assembly is located in the grain tank assembly. 
     
     
       3. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein between the deployed position and the stowed position, the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between 60-120°. 
     
     
       4. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile sensor assembly comprises an antenna, a camera, or a global positioning sensor. 
     
     
       5. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a maximum height defined between a ground surface contacted by the ground-engaging mechanism and an uppermost location on the machine;
 wherein, in the deployed position, the sensor is located at a height greater than the maximum height. 
 
     
     
       6. A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a ground-engaging mechanism for supporting the chassis; 
 a tank assembly mounted to the chassis for storing a crop material, the tank assembly including a retractable door for covering an opening formed in a top of the tank assembly; 
 a mobile sensor assembly comprising a rod and a sensor for detecting a weather condition, the rod including a first end coupled to the retractable door and a second end coupled to the sensor; 
 wherein, the retractable door is operably moved between an open position and a closed position; 
 wherein, the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between a deployed position and a stowed position as the door is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively; and 
 further comprising a shaft rotatably driven by a drive mechanism, the shaft operably coupled to the door for rotating the door between the open and closed positions. 
 
     
     
       7. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile sensor assembly is coupled to the shaft, the mobile sensor assembly rotatably driven by the shaft between the deployed and stowed positions. 
     
     
       8. The machine of  claim 7 , wherein, as the retractable door is rotatably driven between the open and closed positions, the shaft rotates greater than 100° and the mobile sensor assembly is rotated less than 100°. 
     
     
       9. The machine of  claim 6 , further comprising a machine controller disposed in communication with the drive mechanism for operably controlling a rotational movement of the shaft and automatically moving the mobile sensor assembly between the deployed and stowed positions. 
     
     
       10. The machine of  claim 6 , further comprising a stop assembly comprising a first stopper mechanism and a second stopper mechanism;
 wherein, in the deployed position, the rod engages the first stopper mechanism to prevent further rotational movement of the mobile sensor assembly; 
 wherein, in the stowed position, the rod engages the second stopper mechanism to prevent further rotational movement of the mobile sensor assembly. 
 
     
     
       11. The machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a sleeve for receiving the rod in the deployed position. 
     
     
       12. The machine of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the rod is coupled to a block member, the block member including a stopper block and an opening formed in the block member for receiving the shaft; 
 the block member and rod being pivotable relative to the shaft such that the shaft rotates a greater angular distance than the mobile sensor assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a hydraulic actuator or an electric motor. 
     
     
       14. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein in the closed position, the mobile sensor assembly is located in the tank assembly. 
     
     
       15. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein between the deployed position and the stowed position, the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between 60-120°. 
     
     
       16. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile sensor assembly comprises an antenna, a camera, or a global positioning sensor. 
     
     
       17. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the machine comprises a maximum height defined between a ground surface contacted by the ground-engaging mechanism and an uppermost location on the machine;
 wherein, in the deployed position, the sensor is located at a height greater than the maximum height. 
 
     
     
       18. A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a ground-engaging mechanism for supporting the chassis; 
 a tank assembly mounted to the chassis for storing a crop material, the tank assembly including a plurality of retractable doors for enclosing the tank assembly; 
 a drive assembly including a shaft operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of retractable doors, the drive assembly operably driving the at least one retractable door between an open position and a closed position; 
 a mobile sensor assembly comprising a rod, a sensor for detecting a weather condition, and a stop assembly for limiting rotational movement of the mobile sensor assembly, the rod including a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end coupled to the sensor; 
 wherein, the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between a deployed position and a stowed position at approximately the same time as the door is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively. 
 
     
     
       19. The machine of  claim 18 , wherein, as the retractable door is rotatably driven between the open and closed positions, the shaft rotates greater than 100° and the mobile sensor assembly is rotated less than 100°. 
     
     
       20. The machine of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the stop assembly comprises a first stopper mechanism and a second stopper mechanism; 
 wherein, in the deployed position, the rod engages the first stopper mechanism to prevent further rotational movement of the mobile sensor assembly; 
 wherein, in the stowed position, the rod engages the second stopper mechanism to prevent further rotational movement of the mobile sensor assembly.